Transportation Chemical Incidents – Week of 3-20-24

Reporting Background

See this post for explanation.

Data from PHMSA’s online database of transportation related chemical incidents that have been reported to the agency.

Incidents Summary

• Number of incidents – 300 (294 highway, 4 air, 2 rail)

• Serious incidents – 2 (2 Bulk release, 1 injury, 0 deaths, 0 major artery closed)

• Largest container involved – 23,645 lbs DOT 111A100W1 railcar (Waste Flammable Liquids, N.O.S.) 5-gal leaked from improperly installed and subsequently damaged manway gasket.

• Largest amount spilled – 160-lbs (Calcium Hypochlorite, Hydrated or Calcium Hypochlorite, Hydrated Mixtures, With Not Less Than 5.5 Percent but Not More Than 16 Percent Water) 1-gal plastic containers in cardboard boxes. Container broken in transit.

Most Interesting Chemical: Morpholine - A colorless liquid with a fishlike odor. Flash point 100°F. Corrosive to tissue. DOT lists corrosive as the primary hazard and flammable as a secondary hazard. Used to make rubber chemicals and used as a corrosion inhibitor in boilers.